Fellow Lumberjocks,
I figured I have made about every mistake and several blunders that are possible when it comes to woodworking, remodeling and while practicing other various crafts.
I have pulled off just about ever bone headed mistake any one human being could possibly make.
While writing my current blog series “This Old Mold House” I began thinking that it might be helpful to share some of my experiences in order that others may learn from them and perhaps benefi...

This blog entry today is somewhat woodworking related, and the content has mostly been provided by my daughter Rachel, a student of woodworking, at least in the way I do woodworking.
She’s been hanging out in the shop all afternoon since the grade school decided to call off school today because the Cottonwood River was up so high, cutting off roads around the County today. I’m enjoying her presence in the shop, but I hope the water is down tomorrow so she can learn something w...

How to Make Custom Waterslide Decals
This Waterlide Decal Tutorial is available as a PDF download on my website
Materials List
• Clear or White 8.5×11 waterslide paper• Deft Gloss Clear Lacquer• Brayer Roller• Paper Towels• Bowl with clean water
SOURCES FOR DECAL PAPER WATERSLIDE PAPER
• MicroMark• BelDecal
1. Make decal design on your favorite graphic application.I use a Mac based system so I will share the details of how I do things, however, you can do this on any co...

(I haven’t done this style of blogging for awhile. With so many new LJ’ers now on this website, I’ve figured most of us don’t want to see these long-winded-folksy style, non-woodworking, rambling, style blogs anymore. But, this is a story about “Hot Air”, so I’ll let a bunch out along with the photos.)
This blog could easily be subtitled: ”Facing Your Fears with Hot Air.”Read on further to find out why.
July 29th, 2008:
I wa...

With all of the “Hoopla” associated with my recent blog, and Quixote's Project posting on the subject, I just about had to submit and build the toy for her.
After all, using the thorough 2-Step plans she provided, how hard could it be?
Well, just count all of the Steps I used, and add up the dollar amount of all of the tools I used in the process, and it’s a pretty daunting little project, for a fact. Sure, buying a plastic ring at the big department store would be ch...

I hesitate to do this, that which I am about to do. I don’t fancy myself as a good carver, or a great picture drawer. Especially with so many lumberjocks that are great carvers here that will see this. On top of that, there are so many great carvers on the internet that will stumble onto this blog because they surf the net.
With that said, after Mark Mazzo asked about the process I go through to do a carved panel like this one, I thought about it for awhile, and decided to show th...

Hey LJ!
So a few weeks back I posted some mid-project photoes of how my bandsaw build was going and although it is not entirley finished and still needs little extras like a coat of paint, a stand and a fence I can now show you the fully working and (built bandsaw).
Heres a quick video showing the build process… Enjoy!
Its been a great project and I hope to soon post another video showing it in all of it glory.

A Scrimshaw Art Journey: A Lumberjock’s “Short Version” of the Techniques for Decorating a Powder Horn
by: Mark A. DeCouwww.decoustudio.com
(This writing, photos, and artwork are protected by copyright by M.A. DeCou 2007-2010, all rights reserved, please ask permission before using any part or component.)
===============================
UPDATE 9-25-2012:This past summer I had four students at the John C. Campbell Folk School class on Powder Horn Building and Scr...

About a month ago I received a phone call asking if I would demonstrate the Art of Scrimshaw at the Senior Center in Marion, KS. The lady that called said that she has held onto a brochure of mine since 2003 that someone had given her then, and so she decided to see if I would come and talk to the group.
I asked a bunch of questions, and for some reason had it sunk in my mind that we were talking about the nursing home crowd for the demonstration. I haven’t been to a nursing home much si...

The first in a, likely, long educational series, teaching by example. Poor example. Deliberately. If we don’t try (and fail quick) we may never learn how to proceed. Or reasons why the tried and true, really is.
Several months back (or more) I saw some experimental turnings of Hilary Pfeifer's made from several layers of perforated hardboard, laminated into a block with woodglue. Inspired (and knowing that common wood glue would be brutal to keeping your chisels sharp) I took a bunch...